Care home blasts out Beyonce when residents want to hear James Last

A care home has been criticised for blasting out rock and pop music continuously in the lounge when residents would rather listen to James Last and big band.

Barham House, near Canterbury in Kent, played songs by Beyonce and Bon Jovi, the health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said, failing to adhere to the wishes of the 23 people in its care.

A CQC report said residents told inspectors they had not been consulted on their music preferences.

And because the radio was permanently on, the television in the main lounge was switched off all day.

The care home was issued with a warning notice after an inspection last January which found it was “inadequate”.

In its follow up inspection, it stated that the facility required improvement in all five areas, including safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness and being “well led”.

Residents expressed a desire to listen to James LastCredit:
Tony Russell/Redferns

“Pop and rock music was played on the radio almost continuously in the main lounge during our inspection,” the report said.

“People who were able to speak with us said they liked big band music for example. One person said “Oh I like James Last”.

“We heard music by Beyoncé and Jon Bon Jovi being played and people said they had not been asked if they liked the radio station selected, which was not considerate of their preferences.”

James Last, who died in 2015, was the big band leader of the James Last Orchestra and recorded 52 hit albums between 1967 and 1986.

Known as “Mr Happy Sound,” he was credited with achieving sales surpassed only by Elvis Presley. He is estimated to have sold up to 100 million albums worldwide and had hits with songs including Games That Lovers Play and Happy Heart.

The report said staff were not always considerate of people’s choices or the impact of what they said to them and there were not enough activities to offer people social stimulation.

“Staff spoke kindly with people but on occasions did not consider the potential impact of what they said,” it found.

“For example, staff openly told people that the service was running short staffed and passed comment about how this affected them personally, for example, causing them to sweat or be ‘Dead on my feet.’

“This was not appropriate and one person told us ‘I don’t like to ask them to come in to me again; they’re so busy.’”

The home was also criticised for failing to meet individuals’ nutritional needs and following professional diet advice.

One person assessed as needing a soft diet was observed eating biscuits given to them by kitchen staff that could have proved a choking risk.

Another was given a chocolate mousse instead of biscuits because kitchen staff incorrectly said they needed a soft diet.

It was only when the resident informed staff that she should not be eating the mousse, which contained 14g of sugar, because she was diabetic that it was replaced with yoghurt.

Despite the criticisms, residents gave inspectors positive feedback about their care.

One said: “They do everything they can to make us comfortable” while another said “We’re alright here; everyone’s kind and I feel lucky and looked after”.

The home, which is owned by Care & Residential Homes Ltd and which looks after elderly people with diabetes, dementia and mobility problems, declined to comment on the report.